Goal 1 Healthy Families

DevNW, an organization formed by the recent merger of Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services and NEDCO, strives to build and grow Northwest communities through individual, family, neighborhood and business development.

“We envision a future when Pacific Northwest individuals, families and neighborhoods have access to financial opportunity, affordable homes, vibrant small businesses and thriving, healthy communities,” said Rebecka Weinsteiger, thriving communities manager for DevNW.

Several factors go into a successful family, including opportunities for youth while their parents are working. DevNW has offered a youth lunch and activity program each summer since 2017 in Corvallis, and Samaritan has partnered on this effort with Social Accountability grants.

With this funding and support from other community partners, DevNW has grown the program to include nutrition and gardening programming, as well as arts and sports activities with equipment the organization has been able to purchase. Between 15 and 30 kids of all ages attend the daily program during the summer months.

“Samaritan’s grant in 2017 was instrumental in building the program,” Weinsteiger said. “In 2019, we sustained the program for an additional year and we will do so again in 2020. If we had not received these funds, we may have never been able to enrich the summer lunch meal program with opportunities for youth – many of whom would otherwise miss out on enrichment programs – to get outside, connect with positive role models, grow and eat healthy food, and play sports and games.”